Kudumbam Oru Kadambam is a 1981 Tamil drama film about the role of money and working women in 1980s Indian middleclass society. The film was remade in Kannada as Ananda Sagara starring Master Hirannayya, Aarathi, Srinivasamurthy, Jai Jagadish, Pramila Joshai and in Telugu as Manishiki Charithra with Chandramohan, Suhasini and Murali Mohan and in Hindi as Aaj Ka Daur with Jackie Shroff.
The families are faced with various crises. Kannans father discovers that Lakshmiammal has been visiting a hospital to treat an emerging tuberculosis ailment caused by long exposure to cooking flames. Kannans father discreetly informs Mythili that Lakshmiammal must not continue working. Mythili drops out of school and starts working at a palatial mansion in the city. Her job is not revealed, but it is strongly suggested that she may be working as an escort for a rich man. The job, however, pays quite well and Mythili anonymously sends a portion of the money to her mother. Srinivasa Raghavan remains oblivious or apathetic to the whole situation.Kannan and Paramasivam are also faced with trouble. Uma receives a promotion at work. Kannan is unable to accept that his wife makes more money. Priya continues to drift away from her parents, and refuses to come home for Diwali. When Parvathi suddenly becomes pregnant, she is forced to abort because of their strained financial situation. Paramasivam is stricken cold by the fact that he did not have cash for the cab to bring his wife to the hospital. Uma, Parvathi and Lakshmiammal individually ponder the central questions of the film the role of money and the role of working women in the new society order. ........
Source: Wikipedia